# Moratuwa

Moratuwa (Sinhala: මොරටුව) is a large municipality on the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka, near Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. It is situated on the Galle–Colombo (Galle road) main highway, 18 km (11 mi) south of the centre of Colombo. Moratuwa is surrounded on three sides by water, except in the north of the city, by the Indian Ocean on the west, the Lake Bolgoda on the east and the Moratu river on the south. According to the 2012 census, the suburb had a population of 168,280.
Moratuwa is the birthplace of Veera Puran Appu, a resistance fighter against British rule in Matale, the philanthropist Sir Charles Henry de Soysa and the musician Pandit W. D. Amaradeva.

## Suburb structure

Moratuwa consists of 24 main areas: Angulana, Borupana, Dahampura, Egoda Uyana, Idama, Indibedda, Kadalana, Kaduwamulla, Kaldemulla, Katubedda, Katukurunda, Koralawella, Lakshapathiya, Lunawa, Molpe, Moratumulla, Moratuwella, Puwakaramba, Rawathawatta, Soysapura, Thelawala, Uswatta, Uyana and Willorawatta.

## History

Both Moratuwa and Lakshapathiya are mentioned in the 15th century poem Kokila Sandesha, written by a monk poet of Devundara to celebrate Prince Sapumal during the reign of King Parakramabahu VI. Lunawa, Uyana and Rawathawatte are mentioned in 16th century chronicles and church records of martyrs, the latter commemorates Revatha Thera, the chief incumbent of a temple built by King Vijayabahu I. Lakshapathiya, meaning commanding a hundred-thousand, was once the land awarded to Lak Vijaya Singu, a Commander of King Nissanka Malla. Subsequent to the Wijayaba Kollaya and the division of the Kotte Kingdom, the hamlet of Koralawella was created as part of Raigam Korale, which again became part of Moratuwa in 1735, however losing Ratmalana and parts of Borupane to Dehiwala. The name Moratuwa is derived from "Mura Atuwa" meaning sentry turret in Sinhalese which once existed at Kaldamulla.
      About twelve miles (19 km (12 mi)) from Colombo, the chief town of Ceylon, on the high road to Galle, which is the second town, there is a belt or bar of land, lying between the sea on the one side, and, an extensive lake, or rather lagoon, on the other. And as the sea in this quarter abounds in fish, and this lagoon has many arms leading from its ample basin into canals stretching along the coast, and into rivers, flowing from the mountains, so as to form a great harbour, the surrounding country, which is very fertile, has become very populous. On the bank of land referred to, stands the thriving village of Morotto, remarkable for its fishermen and its carpenters.

## Industries

Industries in Moratuwa include the manufacture of furniture, rubber products, batteries, transformers, and wood handicrafts. This suburb is also a fishing and trading center. Of these, Moratuwa is most well known for its furniture.

## Education

The University of Moratuwa, a leading technological university in South Asia is situated on the banks of the Bolgoda Lake in Katubedda, Moratuwa. The University of Moratuwa is an independent state university, which was established on 22 December 1978 under the Universities Act No. 16 of 1978 and operates under the general direction of the University Grants Commission.
The Ceylon - German Technical Training Institute (also known as CGTTI or German Tech) is an engineering college located in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. It is under the preview of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development.
Industrial Engineering Training Institute (IETI) is one of a national institute located in Moratuwa. IETI belongs to the National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA) as well as it is one of the 92 Vocational Colleges in Sri Lanka
High schools in the area are Moratu Maha Vidyalaya, Prince of Wales' College, St. Sebastian's College, Princess of Wales' College, Our Lady of Victories Convent, St. Sebastian's Girls' School, Weera Puran Appu Model School, Methodist High School - Puwakaramba, Janajaya Vidyalaya, De Soysa Maha Vidyalaya, Podujaya Vidyalaya - Angulana, Rawathawaththa Roman Catholic School, Sri Sunanda Upananda Maha Vidyalaya - Egodauyana, St. Anthony's School - Kadalana, Koralawella Roman Catholic School, Sri Saddarmodaya Vidyalaya - Koralawella, Arafath Muslim Maha Vidyalaya - Egodauyana Modara, Willorawatte Gnanissara Buddhist Vidyalaya, Shikshadana Maha Vidyalaya - Lakshapathiya, Rawathawaththa Methodist College, Egodauyana Junior School and Kusinara International School.
As primary schools are Bodhiraja Vidyalaya - Katubedda, Saleena Primary School - Kaldemulla, Moratumulla Lanka Saba Vidyalaya, St. Mary's College - Katukurunda, Thilaka Vidyalaya - Koralawella, Sri Nagasena Vidyalaya - Koralawella, Sugathadharmadhara Vidyalaya - Egodauyana and Uyana Junior School.

## Attractions

The Bolgoda lake situated in Moratuwa is the largest natural lake of Sri Lanka. It is a tributary of the Kalu Ganga which originates at Adam's Peak and is a popular resort for swimming, angling and boating. Bolgoda lake spreads, twisting from Ratmalana via Moratuwa and Panadura till it meets the sea at Wadduwa and Moratuwa via the Moratu ganga. Moratuwa is home to the oldest church dedicated to St. Sebastian and the Holy Emmanuel Church, which was once the tallest building in Sri Lanka. A monument to Puran Appu stands in the premises of the Moratuwa Municipal Council and a museum is housed at the Weera Puran Appu Vidyalaya.

## Music

Moratuwa is famous for its music and is home to some well-known musicians such as W. D. Amaradeva, C.T. Fernando, M. S. Fernando, Nihal Nelson, Priya Peiris (La Bambas), Sunil Perera (The Gypsies) and Niranjala Sarojini.
The town also has a famous theme song, Punsada paaya Moratuwa dillenna (meaning "Moratuwa in the splendour of the full moon"), which is a staple at most musical events held in Moratuwa. Clarence Wijewardena also composed Moratuwa Moratuwa mea nomakena nama song in tribute to the town.

## Sport

Moratuwa is famous for its notable cricket players, such as Duleep Mendis, Susil Fernando Roger Wijesuriya Ajantha Mendis, Amal Silva, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Sajeewa De Silva, Dinusha Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Prasanna Jayawardene, Angelo Perera, Kusal Mendis, Vishwa Fernando, Amila Aponso, Avishka Fernando, and Sadeera Samarawickrama
An international cricket stadium, De Soysa Stadium (Tyronne Fernando Stadium) is situated in Moratuwa.

## Demographics

Moratuwa consisting of all ethnic and religious groups seen in Sri Lanka. This suburb has a percentage Christian population after Negombo city, significantly higher than the national average.
| Ethnicity | Population | % Of Total |
| Sinhalese | 168,324 | 95.00 |
| Sri Lankan Tamils | 4,433 | 2.50 |
| Indian Tamils | 375 | 0.21 |
| Sri Lankan Moors | 2,452 | 1.38 |
| Other (including Burgher, Malay) | 1,606 | 0.91 |
| Total | 177,190 | 100 |
| Religion | Population | % of Total |
| Buddhist | 124,205 | 70.00 |
| Catholics | 33,893 | 19.1 |
| Other Christians | 11,806 | 6.7 |
| Islam | 3,311 | 1.9 |
| Hindu | 3,367 | 1.9 |
| Total | 177,190 | 100 |

## Public library

The Public library of Moratuwa Municipal Council “Janasetha Kala Ketha” at Galle Road, Katubedda, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka was opened in 1987. This was constructed by the funds raised by Moratuwa municipal council to the amount of rupees 15 laks and 50 laks by the Japanese organization “World Exposition Commemorative”. The library was constructed according to Japanese architecture. Among the other facilities provided by the main library are art and stories hour and Tamil language hour for children, Computer classes for children and adults, conference, lectures etc. Every year the library celebrates the literature month (September) and National reading month (October), conducting various activities to develop reading habits among the children. Janasetha Kala Ketha, the public library of Moratuwa, has been awarded as The Best Public Library in Colombo district in the years 2012 and 2013 and as The Best Public Library in the Western Province of the Island in 2012.

## Transport

The main road transport link to Moratuwa is the Colombo-Galle Highway (Galle Road), which links the suburb from the North and South. Moratuwa is linked to the outside by four bridges, Old Moratuwa Bridge at the town centre, New Galle Road Bridge at Modara, Kospalana Bridge and Borupana Road Bridge, all across the Bolgoda Lake. The town is linked by Galle Road to the North at Ratmalana, to Panadura to the South and to Pilyandala in the East. Access to the Southern Expressway from Moratuwa is either through Kottawa or by Horana Road. There are two Sri Lanka Transport Board Depots in Moratuwa city as Moratuwa S.L.T.B Depot and Katubedda S.L.T.B Depot.
The Coastal Railway Line from Colombo to Matara runs through Moratuwa along the coast. There are five Railway Stations in Moratuwa city. Railway Stations at Angulana, Lunawa, Moratuwa, Koralawella and Egodauyana serve residents of Moratuwa.

## Architecture

Unlike most other cities in Sri Lanka, Moratuwa is characterised by many Christian schools and a large variety of church buildings, e.g. Anglican Holy Emmanuel Church which was built 1857-1860 in a neogothic style with a tall clock tower, the modern Methodist Church dating from 2016 in Moratuwella and St. Sebastian's Church, a neobaroque Roman Catholic church. Few buildings dating from colonial times are preserved, e.g. the Clock Tower and the Post Office.
* Moratuwa Railway Station
* Galle Road
* Clock tower and Urban Council
* Post Office
* Methodist Church in Moratuwella
* St. Sebastian's Church